Unfortunately, it is quite common for people to develop an illness or disease after coming into contact with a harmful substance in their workplace.

If your employer has exposed you to a harmful substance and you have developed an illness or disease, you may be able to make a personal injury claim for compensation.

It is your employer's duty to protect you from hazardous substances and hazardous situations whilst you are in work to minimise the risks of you developing an Industrial Illness or Industrial Disease.

For example, if your working environment is very noisy, it is your employer's duty to reduce the noise to an acceptable level or, if this is not possible, to provide you with ear defenders to prevent Industrial Deafness or Noise Induced Hearing Loss.  As long as your employer provides you with these ear defenders it is your responsibility to wear them.

If your job brings you into contact with dangerous chemicals your employer should have already investigated the possibility of replacing the dangerous chemicals with less harmful ones and ensured that you have the minimal amount of contact with them as possible.  If your employer has concluded that there is no way around you working with the dangerous chemicals, they should then provide you with protective clothing to wear.  Again, it is your responsibility to wear the protective clothing once it has been provided.

If you consider that you have suffered an Industrial Illness please telephone Anna Mills Morgan on 01745 852110 for further advice.